Big night for minor Petes alumnus

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Petes vs. Bulls_17.jpg

(PETERBOROUGH) Peterborough minor Petes AAA product Chad Heffernan makes his Memorial Centre debut tonight (Nov. 29) when the Belleville Bulls and Peterborough Petes meet for the first time this season.
Heffenan, the Bulls fourth-round pick in last year's draft, enters the game on a high after scoring his first career goal Wednesday night (Nov. 28) in a 6-2 Bulls win over the Niagara IceDogs.
Heffernan also fought in the contest and was named the gam'es third star.
Heffernan has played 16 games for the East Division-leading Bulls, who come into Peterborough riding a two-game win streak. The Petes, on the other hand, are trying to snap a six-game losing skid. Winners of just one of their last 14 games, the Petes sit at the bottom of the overall Ontario Hockey League standings with 13 points.
Keeping the puck out of their own net and scoring on their own offensive opportunities continues to be a struggle for the maroon-and-white who will start goalie Michael Giugovaz for the first time in three games. He was penciled in to start against Oshawa Tuesday (Nov. 27) but a bruised knee kept him out of the line-up.
The rookie netminder will have to be good tonight as he'll likely be looking down at the visitors' crease to see Malcolm Subban between the pipes.
"Good goaltending is essential for us to get a win tonight," says Petes head coach Mike Pelino.
The Bulls don't score a whole lot but they also don't squander many either. The club is 19th in league scoring with 66 goals for but third overall in goals against.
"We have to play with discipline, get the puck to the net and get bodies to the net to create second opportunities," says Pelino.
Meanwhile, Steven Varga returns to the back end tonight after being a healthy scratch Tuesday. Chase Hatcher will take his spot in the press box.
Puck drop is 7 p.m.